We are the Champions — my friend. But wearing white shorts past Labor Day. Doesn’t that violate some rule?

209 Winners, winners everywhere.

University of Georgia won on a last second field goal.

The Morgan County Bulldogs won their Homecoming game against previously undefeated Jackson County.

My dear friend Karen Spence completed the inaugural Georgia 70.3 Ironman yesterday. (Along with Madtown locals hubby Rick, Chanin Gill and Kate Shepard.)

Tim Tebow and the Gators battled an undisclosed “respiratory illness” to steamroll Kentucky.

Funny, when I was young I supposed champions were genetically gifted souls. People who just walked out their front door in the morning and conquered the world whether their arena be business, sports, high school popularity, humanitarian effort. They were people God waved some large magic wand and said – you are chosen. You will excel against all adversity. You will have mighty courage and never know pain.

That wasn’t me.

Like a lot of lies we believe in our youth, I was captive to that mentality.

I now know differently.

The only way champions are different than most of us is that they persevere. They don’t expect things to be easy, and when thing get tough – they stay tough.

Life just is hard. It’s wonderful and deep and filled with cashmere. But not easy.

Enjoy the pain sometimes. Persevere to the other side and win. Same you different result. You didn’t throw in the towel because things weren’t the way you planned.

Seeing those UF football players throw up into red plastic bags and keep playing. There were no, “I feel really, really sick. Guess this wasn’t meant to be.” They must have felt horrible. But they got out there and did their job.

My friend Karen’s text after the 70.3 Ironman — 1.2 mile swim, 56 bike and 13.1 run. “It was really hard. Every muscle group in my legs cramped. But I did it.”

When life gets tough, get tough right back. Call on holy power from above. That’s what it takes to make a champion. Don’t expect ease and comfort. Just do it. You’ll look back and be proud.

Wearing white shorts past Labor Day. Doesn’t that violate some kind of rule? But no one else could ever sing this song — though interesting choice for concert hydration.

Here’s wishing you a great start to the week.